YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION RATES

The headline inflation or the annual rate of change on the prices of goods and services in the market basket of South Cotabato increased to -2.6 percent in June 2025. It was lower by 6.7 percentage points from the same month last year at 4.1 percent and 0.3 percentage point higher from May 2025 at -2.9 percent. South Cotabato’s inflation was lower by 2.2 percentage points compared to the national estimate and 0.6 percentage point lower compared to the regional estimate, respectively. The year-to-date provincial average inflation stood at -2.1 percent (Table 1).

The major contributors to the uptrend in the province’s inflation rate for the month of June 2025 are Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, from 2.0 percent; Restaurants and Accommodation with 4.5 percent inflation; and Transport with -3.0 percent inflation.

Lower annual increments were noted in the indices of the following commodity groups:
a.    Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, from 5.8% to 6.1%;
b.    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, from 1.0% to 0.9%; and 
c.    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance,
from 1.3% to 0.6%

Meanwhile, higher inflation rates were noted in the following commodity groups:

a.    Clothing and Footwear, from 0.6% to 0.7%;
b.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, from 0.3% to 2.0%
c.    Health, from 2.1% to 2.3%;
d.    Transport, from -4.0% to -3.0%;
e.    Recreation, Sport and Culture, from 5.2% to 5.7%;
f.    Education Services, from 3.0% to 6.2%;
g.    Restaurants and Accommodation Services, from 2.2% to 4.5%; and 
h.    Personal Care and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, from 1.0% to 1.1%

Meanwhile, the rest of the commodity groups: Information and Communication (0.0%) and Financial Services (0.0%) maintained their previous month’s inflation rates. (Table 2)

Meanwhile, inflation for food decreased to -6.7 percent in June 2025 from -6.3 percent in June 2025. In May 2024, food inflation was higher at 7.3 percent (Table 3).

The top three food groups that contributed to the decreased in food inflation were; Rice, -21.6 percent; Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c, -2.1 percent; and Fruits and Nuts at 8.2%.